Mason County Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Suggestion On Improving Secondary Roads Gets Gov. Jim Justice Attention

A suggestion was made during the Joint Committee on Technology and Infrastructure interim meeting this week to create something similar to a Blue Ribbon Commission, focused on improving the state’s secondary roads.

That suggestion came from Del. Jim Butler, R-Mason, who said the state’s Roads to Prosperity $2.8 billion bonding project has obviously not worked for maintaining secondary roads, especially in his area.

“We’ve got Route 35 down here in Mason County, which was a big thing,” Butler said, “But that was already in construction or in the works before the Roads for Prosperity Bond was passed. And it hasn’t done anything good I’ve seen for our secondary roads. Many county routes in the vicinity of the NUCOR plant are among the areas that are really bad that I get complaints about.”

Butler said his suggestion is not about another Blue Ribbon Road Commisson on HIghways like the one set up in 2012. He said improvements won’t just come with funding, but an organized plan that is specific to secondary road maintenance.

“It needs to be our Technology and Infrastructure Committee to begin this process,” Butler said. “Get the Department of Highways into our normal meeting and spend some time and figure out what the problems are and not make it just a big spending proposal.”

During his Wednesday media briefing, WVPB asked Justice about Butler’s suggestion and comments. He began by saying state road conditions and the overall Department of Highways have undergone a positive transformation during his time in office.

“When I walked in the door, we needed money so badly that we sold our own equipment in order to generate some dollars,” Justice said. “Today, we have an abundance of top level, brand new maintenance equipment, and we’re doing stuff all over the place.”

Justice then noted that Butler’s home district concerns were being addressed.

“My staff met yesterday with people in Mason County on the condition of roads there,” he said.

Justice called the Roads to Prosperity program “absolutely successful,” but added that it is a work in progress.

“We’re going to keep on doing everything we can,” Justice said. “And we’re going to keep on making every improvement that we can make. But we’re not going to do that by just creating a situation where we create a tax burden on our people to just do more and more and more and more instantaneously and everything.”

Butler said road maintenance funding doesn’t necessarily need to be increased but prioritized in a different way.

“I want it to be something where we get down in the weeds and figure out how we can better finance our roads,” Butler said, “And how can we make sure that that money is well spent and we get good results.”

Flood Preps Increase Along Ohio River

Flood warnings continued on Thursday for West Virginia communities along the Ohio River. Two counties are hoping for the best, but bracing for the worst.

In Mason County, rising backwaters from the Ohio River are forcing several road closures. Jeremy Bryant, Mason County’s director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said all county schools are closed for the rest of the week. He said in Point Pleasant, it takes about a 50-foot Ohio River flood stage to activate flood wall gating and pumping.

“We’re right now sitting at 45 feet at Point Pleasant and just keeping an eye on the prediction,” Bryant said. “If it would rise any at all, then they’re probably going to have to activate and start looking and putting the flood walls in.”

Bryant said the Ohio River crest is not expected until Saturday. He said the county continues to monitor river levels, communicate with residents and make flood preparations, including possible evacuations.

“There will be places that are shut off, but it’s more of a shut off thing rather than an imminent danger thing,” Bryant said. “We’re making sure that people are aware and let them make their own decisions at this point. If it comes to an evacuation, we’ll deal with it at that time.”

In the Parkersburg area, Wood County 911 Emergency Service Deputy Director Dale McEwuen said some roadways are obstructed and the Red Cross is on standby.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is doing a real good job of controlling the flow of the water,” McEwuen said. “That helps with the flooding purposes. And right now we don’t have any folks displaced from their homes.”

He said they are issuing constant social media alerts as Ohio River water inches toward downtown Parkersburg.

“Our flood wall in Parkersburg is down at the point,” McEwuen said.“It’s called Point Park. It has been closed and there’s water up to it. That prevents water from coming into our downtown area.”

Both counties have first responders on standby as they closely watch the rising river waters. McEwuen said it’s all about watching the numbers now.

“We’re expecting the water to start receding on Sunday,” McEwuen said. “It’s still going to climb probably another two feet between now and then. It will crest at about 41 feet on Sunday and should start receding after that.”

Lawmakers Enable Bigger Solar Projects, Eliminate Sunset Provision

House Bill 5528 updates that law to allow for 100 megawatt projects and eliminates the sunset clause.

A prior state law capped the size of renewable power projects at 50 megawatts and included a provision to sunset the program next year.

House Bill 5528 updates that law to allow for 100 megawatt projects and eliminates the sunset clause.

Sen. Glenn Jeffries, R-Putnam, explained that the bill helps attract more businesses that want to come to the state if they can receive solar power.

“And there’s a number of companies here in West Virginia and other companies that have interest in West Virginia that would like to have solar as part of their business model,” Jeffries said.

Nucor, the steelmaker that’s building a new plant in Mason County, is one such example. By the time it begins production, it will receive at least 20 percent of its power from solar.

The House of Delegates approved the bill last month, 61 to 36. The Senate approved it Thursday, 32 to 1. It now goes to the governor.

The largest solar installation in the state was activated in January in Monongalia County. Mon Power’s Fort Martin solar generates 19 megawatts.

Mon Power expects to complete two more solar sites this year and seek approval from state regulators for two more to be constructed next year.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission has approved a siting certificate for a Kansas company to build a solar farm in Mason County.

Organization Seeks Volunteers To Help Foster Care Children Navigate Court

An organization that helps foster children navigate the legal system in 10 West Virginia counties needs volunteers.

Western Regional Court Appointed Special Advocates or, CASA helps children in Boone, Cabell, Calhoun, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Roane and Wayne counties find someone to serve as the child’s voice throughout court proceedings.

Program Director, Kim Runyon Wilds said no that special experience is required and the organization provides training.

“We do not have enough advocates for every child, unfortunately,” Wilds said. “That’s why we are trying to get the word out about this program. We have almost 900 children that are waiting for one of our volunteers to be assigned to them just in our 10 county service area.”

Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and be able to pass a background check, including a child protective services check.

“After they get all of the background check stuff done, they’ve completed every chapter of training, then we swear them in with an oath of confidentiality with a circuit court judge,” Wilds said. “So once all of that is done, they’re ready to actually be an advocate for children who have experienced trauma.”

Wilds said each case is different. Some children who are involved in court because of abuse and neglect are assigned a Child Protective Service (CPS) social worker, and a guardian ad litem who is the attorney for the child.

Wilds said while CPS workers and guardians ad litem have large caseloads, CASA volunteers have one or two cases on average. The organization serves about 450 children each year.

“They have the ability, and frankly, the time to be able to do regular home visits, check in with the family and review records,” Wilds said. “Get a complete story of the family’s history, what’s going on, why is the family in court, and then they can then develop a relationship with the child. See what the child wants to happen in the case and see what the child’s best interests are, which will be the opinion of the advocate.”

According to Wilds, children with CASA volunteers spend less time in foster care on average and they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.

“Long term outcomes for children who have been appointed a CASA volunteer are good, (they are) less likely to enter right back into foster care, less likely to drop out of school,” Wilds said. “Having the CASA volunteer, or even a consistent, caring and protective adult in a child’s life is enough to change their story. They’re changing a child’s story by helping a child advocating for a child just being a protective adult in a child’s life.”

Wilds said CASA’s ultimate goal is the reunification of the family, if at all possible.

“We want to get to know them and the environment they’re currently in along with where they came from, but our primary goal is reunification,” Wilds said. “If it can be safely achieved, we want the kids back with their parents, if that can happen.”

Interested individuals can contact CASA via their Facebook page, by calling 304-523-9587, ext. 307, or by emailing Wilds directly at kwilds@TEAMWV.org.

PSC Approves 100-Megawatt Solar Farm In Mason County

The PSC will allow TED Renewables, based in Overland Park, Kansas, to build a 100-megawatt solar farm on more than 1,500 acres near New Haven.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved a solar project in Mason County.

The PSC will allow TED Renewables, based in Overland Park, Kansas, to build a 100-megawatt solar farm on more than 1,500 acres near New Haven.

The facility will consist of 226,000 solar panels and represent an investment of $97 million.

Last week, Nucor Steel broke ground on its future plant in Mason County. When it opens in 2026, it will be powered in part by renewable energy.

TED Renewables applied to the PSC for the siting certificate in August, taking advantage of state legislation passed in 2020 to encourage solar development.

The New Haven solar facility is set to begin construction in 2025 for completion in 2026.

Nucor Breaks Ground On Steel Plant And Shoots For A World Record

With a countdown from 10,550 shovels of dirt moved at the site of Nucor’s future steel plant, in an attempt to clench a world record for number of people in a groundbreaking.

Elected officials, corporate executives and members of the public all participated in the groundbreaking for a new steel plant in Mason County on Friday.

With a countdown from 10,550 shovels of dirt moved at the site of Nucor’s future steel plant, in an attempt to clench a world record for number of people in a groundbreaking.

Gov. Jim Justice, U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, state lawmakers, local leaders, Nucor workers and students from three high schools officially kicked off the project on a wet and cold October morning.

The Nucor plant will open in 2026, employing 800 workers full-time. The construction of the plant will require 2,000 workers.

The company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, will produce sheet steel from scrap steel using an electric arc furnace.

Some of the plant’s power will be renewable, including a proposed solar farm in the county.